At age 19, Samantha met the love of her life in Paris, but although he sent her wonderful romantic letters, she never answered him; that is until …
Samantha’s marriage to Chris has failed, as have the many ventures he started over the years. Broke and in huge debt, she is packing to move home to her parents when she finds the seven letters of the title.
Encouraged by Tracey, her best friend and travelling companion from 20 years earlier, Samantha decides to find Jean-Luc, which she duly does via that modern reconnection method, Facebook. Simply she apologises for her past bad manners.
What follows next could come from the pen of one of the best romance writers; it is, however, a memoir, or as it says on the cover “Love – a true story”.
Can you take up where you left off in a relationship? After 20 years, is it possible to rekindle love? Should you even try? At what point has too much water flowed under the bridge?
Samantha was not very confident at 19 when she met Jean-Luc; one of the reasons she didn’t answer his letter was her belief that she wasn’t worthy of what he was offering. Her confidence has taken a beating over the last 20 years and when Jean-Luc turns out to be the man of her dreams, she still questions him. He on the other hand, despite two children from a long-term relationship and a disastrous marriage, is more than willing to still her fears.
There are a number of likeable people in Samantha’s world; I particularly like her mother, father (not the birth one the real one) and her best friend Tracey.
As a graphic designer Samantha has an eye for detail and her descriptions of the French countryside, the beach walks with her dogs and her snooty dog walking clients are delightful.
Seven Letter from Paris is an enjoyable light read, a book without pretensions worth the investment of your time.
This Starts at Sixty review is part of a blog tour for Seven Letters from Paris, so if you would like to read more see:
Saturday 8th November
Write Note Reviews – Guest Blog
or
Monday 10th November
1 Girl 2 Many Books – Review
A self-proclaimed Princess and her frog
Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her.
Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to south western France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously expensive Bengal cat.
When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.
